Each day, it seems, we are closer and closer to getting an annoucement about a second Supreme Court vacancy — as this latest news about Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist further attests: WASHINGTON – Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, ailing with cancer, has been hospitalized with a fever, spurring more retirement speculation about the 33-year veteran of the Supreme Court. The 80-year-old Rehnquist was taken by ambulance to Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va., on Tuesday night...

There’s little sign that the controversy swirling over President George Bush’s political right-hand-man Karl Rove and his alleged role in helping out a CIA operative’s identity is abating. If anything, the controversy is growing as Bush is silent on his past statements about firing leakers and many in the GOP party, political and media elite get on the same wavelenth: an increasingly cohesive and legalistic defense of Rove coupled with a counterattack on the husband and wife at...

The controversial move to press for reparations appears poised to acclerate amid reports that the NAACP plans to press businesses for reparations and launch some boycotts. One reason for this, the Washington Times story notes, is a recognition that the government will probably never get involved in the controversial campaign. Another fact: reparations so far seem to have come in the form of scholarships and education funds versus the common perception that it would involved mass payoffs to individuals....

…and not a moment too soon. But I’d say they’re utterly wrong about the so-called Wall of Shame, whose construction they refuse to acknowledge coincided with the end (for the most part) of the intifada against Israel. In a great irony, a wall often condemned as a blatant violation of human rights and territorial integrity might have helped usher in a nonviolence movement in Palestine that seeks its removal. I’d hate to see regular bombings in Jerusalem return as a result...

It sounds like John Bolton is indeed destined to be a recess appointment after all: John R. Bolton’s nomination to be ambassador to the United Nations was the hottest issue in Congress a few months ago. But it has virtually evaporated this summer, eclipsed by speculation over a Supreme Court nominee and the fate of the president’s top political adviser. With neither the White House nor Senate Democrats showing any sign of yielding in their long-running dispute over documents related...

It’s interesting how in the London bombing case the words “suicide bombers” are slowly trickling out — but the words are being used: Four friends from northern England have changed the face of terrorism by carrying out the suicide bombings that brought carnage to London last week. It emerged last night that, for the first time in Western Europe, suicide bombers have been recruited for attacks. Security forces are coming to terms with the realisation that young Britons are...

Judicial candidates would be wise to dodge the questions they’re aske during their hearings. But our political system is decidedly unwise to create that disincentive.

Hillel Levin has it. The Debate Link has more (heehee, that’s clever…”they have it, I have more.” Sometimes, I amaze myself).

Most of today’s posts will start today after 6 a.m. San Diego time. We will be posting today, but perhaps at more erratic times than usual. TMV will be on the road for the latter part of this week, but our co-bloggers will also be posting a bit more this week (and he will post on the road as usual).

Here’s your chance to demand that White House bigwig Karl Rove be fired, or Not fired. USA TODAY has a poll RIGHT HERE so you can vote now. We honestly don’t think this poll will influence any “personnel matters” at the White House but it is a chance for each reader to register his/her/its opinion. We thank our reader Marty for the tip!

Events are moving swiftly in the case of last week’s terrorist attacks in London where one man has been arrested and authorities believe at least one suspect died in the attacks: They said there was forensic evidence that the bomber responsible for the train explosion at Aldgate died there. Personal documents of three suspects were also found close to the explosions suggesting all four died in the blasts. One man has been arrested in Yorkshire and taken to London for questioning after police...

…and instead trying to take a wider view, I have returned from a two week hiatus/vacation with some ruminations upon “The shackles of cognitive thought” at my weblog, Random Fate. While the devil may lie in the details, you cannot see where you are going if you stare at your feet.

Is Karl Rove in trouble? Is he about to issue an explanation that defuses the controversy about him allegedly being involved in revealing a CIA operative’s identity in a political skirmish? The answers to that are yet to come — but there are signs he is overstaying his welcome…because he is being perceived as a distraction. Here are some excerpts from The Jawa Report’s Rusty Shackleford (read the whole post since we’re only offering you some parts): Is Rove guilty?...

Here’s yet another sign that these days BBC stands for Bad British Copy editors: The BBC has re-edited some of its coverage of the London Underground and bus bombings to avoid labelling the perpetrators as “terrorists”, it was disclosed yesterday. Early reporting of the attacks on the BBC’s website spoke of terrorists but the same coverage was changed to describe the attackers simply as “bombers”. The BBC’s guidelines state that its credibility is undermined...

An incredibly telling slide show On Al Qaeda’s butchery can be viewed at that great site for foreign issues, The Winds Of Change. Bill Roggio and Marvin Hutchens put together a flash presentation that shows you (complete with suitable music) a quick history of Al Qaeda attacks on the innocent. Roggio writes: The facts presented speak for themselves. There have been 30 major mass casualty attacks directed against the United States, Britain, France, Spain, Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania, India,...

A nice plate of hot curry can be one of the joys of living with its enticing, enchanting, almost addicting flavor. If you like it extra spicy, it’s almost like a meditation as you feel it going down. The experience can stay with you for hours. Or it can hit you after a few hours (see photo)…. But now there’s a NEW twist: curry’s ingredients may help combat skin cancer: The compound that makes curry yellow could help fight skin cancer, U.S. researchers reported on Monday. They...

…at what will DEFINITELY become a DAILY MUST READ for bloggers and anyone interested in weblogs, The Hotline’s new Blogometer. William Beutler, The Hotline’s senior writer, explains it better than we can in his highly welcome email which read, in part: Since late March, the Blogometer has appeared as a section of the National Journal’s Hotline, a daily subscription-only Beltway tip sheet. Now we’re taking it to the web where it will be posted every weekday around noon...

Our periodic linkfest pointing you to interesting posts from DIFFERING viewpoints. These viewpoints do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Moderate Voice or its co-bloggers. The Plaaaaaaaaaaame Game via Pennywit is MUST READING. A tiny taste 4 U: Plame-Plame bo-Blame Bonanana Fo-flame … Am I the only political blogger who doesn’t play the Plame game? When I glance at the prominent political bloggers, I think I am. The Plame game: If you’re liberal, you say Karl Rove, in...

NOTE: The Centrist Coalition has issued this statement on the upcoming Supreme Court nomination battles. The link to that is here but we’re running it in full to ensure readers check it out. TMV has been involved in some of its conferences and applauds its efforts to work for thoughtful discussion: The Supreme Court Vacancy The retirement of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, and the upcoming confirmation of her successor, offer our political leaders an important opportunity to...

There are a lot of criticisms one could make of US policy. Misguided, for one. Arrogant, perhaps. One could plausibly argue that it is illegal under international law–I don’t really know the relevant rules and practices to be able to comment on that, really. However, while I understand the frustration of those who feel we are in a war because we were lied to, or because President Bush decided it would be a good way to boost his poll ratings or whatever, this was uncalled for (Balloon...